Method for joining abutting elements by concealed means

ABSTRACT

A concealed means for joining two abutting elements. The first element has at least an engaging surface and an access surface oriented angularly with respect to the engaging surface. An anchor means is secured within the engaging surface such that the axis thereof extends outwardly from the engaging surface. The second element also has an engaging surface that can be abutted to the engaging surface of the first element. The first element has an ingressive passage that opens through its access surface and communicates with the anchor means. The ingressive passage is oriented obliquely to the axis of the anchor means, and the actual fastening of the first and second elements is achieved by a screw means that extends through the anchor means of the first element and penetrates the engaging surface of the second element. Tightening and loosening the screw means is accomplished by driving means having a flexible shaft for negotiating the oblique intersection of the ingressive passage with the axis of the anchor means and for permitting actuation of the screw means by rotation of the shaft from exteriorly of the first element.

United States Patent Herman 1 July 11,1972

[54] METHOD FOR JOINING ABU'ITING ELEMENTS BY CONCEALED MEANS [72]Inventor: Patricio Herman, 1954 Tacoma Street,

Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221 [22] Filed: May 21, I970 [21] Appl. No.:48,604

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 804,415, April13, 1971, Pat. No.

52 us. c1. ..29/526, 144/309 L, 145/61 D, 231/2092 D, 287/2092 F 51 int.Cl ..B23p 19/00 58 fieldofSearch.............,..,...............29/526;144/309 L; 287/2092 F,20.92 L, 20.924; 145/61 1) FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 13,765 8/1889GreatBritain ..287/20.92F 581,942 12/1924 France ..287/20.92F

Primary Examiner-Charlie T. Moon Attorney-Hamilton, Renner & Kenner 1 1ABSTRACT A concealed means for joining two abutting elements. The firstelement has at least an engaging surface and an access surface orientedangularly with respect to the engaging surface. An anchor means issecured within the engaging surface such that the axis thereof extendsoutwardly from the engag ing surface. The second element also has anengaging surface that can be abutted to the engaging surface of thefirst element. The first element has an ingresive passage that opensthrough its access surface and communicates with the anchor means. Theingressive passage is oriented obliquely to the axis of the anchormeans, and the actual fastening of the first and second elements isachieved by a screw means that extends through the anchor means of thefirst element and penetrates the engaging surface of the second element.Tightening and loosening the screw means is accomplished by drivingmeans having a flexible shaft for negotiating the oblique intersectionof the ingressive passage with the axis of the anchor means and forpermitting actuation of the screw means by rotation of the shaft fromexteriorly of the first element.

P'A'TENTEDJUL n 1972 3.675.131 2 sum 1 a; 2

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P TR/C/O HERMAN BY W, 4%

W7 KW A TTORNEYS PAT'ENIEBJUL 1 1 1912 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR.

P TR/C/O H MAN FIG 5 ATTORNEYS METHOD FOR JOINING ABU'I'TING ELEMENTS BYCONCEALED MEANS RELATED APPLICATION This application is a divisionalapplication of my prior copending application, Ser. No. 804,415, now US.Pat. No. 3,574,510, issued on Apr. 13, I971.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally toconcealed means for joining two abutting elements. Specifically, thepresent invention relates to a means and method for abuttingly joiningtwo elements, such as pieces of wood, without exposing any part of thejoinder means.

A variety of joinder means have been used for connecting two abuttingpieces of wood, as, for example, nails, screws, bolts and the like. Suchjoinder means are, if accessible, generally exposed and thereby createan unattractive appearance, particularly when used with items offurniture or cabinetry.

Moreover, when such joinder means project outwardly from the piecesjoined, particularly when loosened, they tend to abrade the hands, catchon clothing, etc. Attempts have been made to permit access for suchjoinder means in locations normally hidden from view, but heretoforerather large cavities have been required in at least one of the elementsbeing joined to accommodate the joinder means. Such cavities not onlytend unduly to weaken the member in which they are recessed, but theycan only be positioned where visually hidden from view inasmuch as theyare not readily obscured with plugs.

The use of glue does, of course, provide a completely hidden joindermeans, but heretofore it has been virtually impossible to disassemble,at will, elements joined with glue.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a primary object of thepresent invention to provide a completely concealed joinder means forabuttingly fastening two elements.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a concealedjoinder means, as above, which means is strong, readily accessible,quickly assembled or disassembled, and inexpensive.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod for joining two elements together in abutment without any part ofthe joinder means being exposed.

These and other objects which will become apparent from the followingspecification are accomplished by the improved constructions and methodshereinafter described and claimed.

A concealed joinder means embodying the concept of the present inventionmay be employed to fasten two abutting elements. The first of theelements has an engaging surface and an access surface orientedangularly with respect to the engaging surface. An anchor means isretained within the engaging surface of the first element and a screwmeans pierces the anchor means to extend outwardly of the engagingsurface.

An ingressive passage opens through the access surface and communicateswith the anchor means to admit contact with the screw means by a drivingmeans. Because the ingressive passage is oriented obliquely with respectto the anchor means, the driving means must flex to accommodate thedogleg intersection between the anchor means and the ingressive passage.

By interfitting the driving means with the screw means and rotating theformer in one direction, the screw means may be tightened into theengaging surface of the second element until the two elements areabuttingly joined. The ingressive passage, after removal of the drivingmeans, may be readily plugged for obscuration.

Retrorotation of the driving means will permit facile dismantling of thejoint.

One preferred embodiment is shown by way of example in the accompanyingdrawings and described in detail without attempting to show all of thevarious forms and modifications in which the invention might beembodied; the invention being measured by the appended claims and not bythe details of the specification.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is an exploded perspective showingthe improved joinder means as applied to two pieces of wood to be joinedin abutment at right angles to each other;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the anchor means secured within one ofthe wooden pieces and a driving means positioned to be inserted withinthat wooden piece for cooperative engagement with the joinder means;

FIG. 3 is an exploded cross section, taken substantially on line 33 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded cross section, taken substantially on line 44 ofFIG. 2 and depicting, in phantom, the driving means inserted within onewooden piece and engaging the joinder means; and,

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the parts after the joinder has beencompleted.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring more particularly to thedrawings, a concealed means for abuttingly joining two elements isindicated generally by the numeral I0 and is depicted in the specificenvironment of joining first and second wooden members I I and l 2,respectively.

The first wooden member 11 has an engaging surface 13 and an accesssurface I4 angularly oriented with respect to the engaging surface. Onthe member I], these two surfaces are oriented perpendicularly, but theycould, as well, be at angles greater or lesser than perpendicular.

An anchor cavity 15 is recessed into the engaging surface 13 of thefirst wooden member 11 to receive an anchor means in the form of a dowel16. The dowel 16 is secured within the anchor cavity 15 by a suitablefastening means. As shown, the annular outer surface 17 of the dowel 16may be glued to the cylindrical surface 18 of the cavity 15. Tofacilitate a glued joinder, a helical groove 19 (FIGS. 1 and 3) may beprovided within the annular outer surface 18 to provide a reservoir ofglue 20 (FIGS. 4 and 5 An axial starting aperture 21 pierces the anchordowel I6 to receive the shank 22 of a round head screw 23 with the head24 abutting the axially inner face 25 of dowel l6 and its threadedportion 26 extending outwardly of the engaging surface 13 along the axis28 of the anchor means. As shown, the axis 28 may well extend generallyperpendicularly from the engaging surface 13 of the first member 1 I.

Coaxially of the screw 23, and dowel 16, a guide bore 29 extendsconcentrically of, and presents an extension to, the anchor cavity 15.The guide bore 29 intersects an ingressive passage 30 that is bored toopen through the access surface I4 of the first wooden member II.Because the engaging and ac cess surfaces 13 and 14 are angularlyoriented, the ingressive passage 30 is oriented obliquely with respectto the axis 28 of the anchor means.

In order to fasten the members 11 and I2 so that the engaging surface I3on the first member II is in abutment with the engaging surface 31 onthe second wooden number 12, a driving means, indicated generally by thenumeral 35 (FIG. 2), having a shaft 36 which flexes to accommodate thedog-leg intersection of the ingressive passage 30 and the guide bore 29is inserted from the access surface 14, through the ingressive passage30 and the guide bore 29 and into the anchor cavity 15 until the bladeportion 38 of the driving means 35 interfits with the slot 39 on thescrew head 24. Because it has been found that a Phillips screw isslightly advantageous for facilitating the blind interfitting of theblade portion 38 to the screw 23, the blade portion 38 adapted thereforis shown. However, it must be appreciated that the present concept isnot so limited. So engaged, the driving means 35 is rotated to drive thescrew into the engaging surface 31 of the second wooden member 12.

The two members 11 and 12 may be initially separated, as shown in FIG.4, so that the craftsman can select the exact location at which thethreaded portion 26 of screw 23 penetrates engaging surface 31, or thetwo members 11, 12 may first be juxtaposed. Particularly in the eventthat the latter procedure is followed, it is preferable that the axialextent of the anchor cavity 15 be sufficient to accommodate the fulllength of screw 23.

For convenience, the guide bore 29 should be of sufficient length thatby contact of the flexible shaft 36 therewith the blade portion 38 willbe directed against the head 24. Once the blade portion 38 contacts head24, the drive member 35 may be rotated to align the blade portion 38with the slot 39 in head 24.

Satisfactory flexure can be provided in shaft 36 by forming it of wirecoiled in a tight helix, or, better, with two, concentric helicai coilsof wire, the coils being of opposite hand and both secured, at theiropposite ends, to the blade portion 38 and the handle 40. By using twosuch oppositely wound coils the screw 23 may be tightened or loosenedwith equal facility.

After the screw 23 has been tightened, the drive means 35 may be removedand the entrance to the ingressive passage 30 obscurated by a plug 41(FIG. In most situations, however, the ingressive passage 30 may beoriented to open through an access surface that is normally unexposed sothat no plugging would be required. But even when plugging is required,it can be done tastefully and discreetly to assure that the joindermeans In summary, then, the process of joining two abutting elementsaccording to the concept of the present invention comprises thefollowing steps. An anchor cavity is recessed into an engaging surface13 of a first element 11. An anchor means 16 is oriented within theanchor cavity 15 so that a screw 23 supported within the anchor means 16extends outwardly of the engaging surface i3. it is often preferablethat a starting aperture 21 pierce the anchor means 16 and that a guidebore 29 provide an axial extension of, and be concentric with, the

anchor cavity 15. An ingressive passage 30 is bored through an accesssurface 14 of the first element 11, obliquely to intersect the anchorcavity 15, or its extension, the guide bore 29. After inserting adriving means 35 through said ingressive passage 30 and intointerfitting contact with the screw 23, the driving means 35 is rotatedto tighten or loosen the screw 23 into an engaging surface 31 of asecond element 12 abutted to the first element 11. After withdrawal ofthe driving means 35, the ingressive passage 30 may, if not otherwisehidden, be obscurated by insertion of a plug 41.

It should thus be apparent that a joinder means embodying the concept ofthe present invention can be used to join two elements, remaincompletely concealed and otherwise accomplish the objects thereof.

1 claim:

1. A method for joining first and second elements compris ing the stepsof, boring an ingressive passage through an access surface of the firstelement, recessing an anchor cavity to open through the engaging surfaceof the first element and obliquely to intersect the ingressive passage,orienting an anchor means that supports a screw within said anchorcavity, inserting a flexible driving means through said ingressivepassage to engage the screw and turning said driving means to tightenthe screw within the anchor means and into an engaging surface on thesecond element juxtaposed against the engaging surface on the firstelement.

2. A method for joining first and second elements, as set forth in claim1, in which the following additional step is utilized, securing ananchor means in the form of a dowel in said cavity.

3. A method for joining first and second elements, as set forth in claim2, in which the following additional step is utilized, piercing astarting aperture axially of the dowel to receive the screw.

4. A method for oining wooden members, as set forth in claim 2, in whichthe following additional step is utilized, plugging said ingressivepassage after the screw is satisfactorily tightened and the flexibledriving means is removed from the ingressive passage.

1: a a 1K

1. A method for joining first and second elements comprising the stepsof, boring an ingressive passage through an access surface of the firstelement, recessing an anchor cavity to open through the engaging surfaceof the first element and obliquely to intersect the ingressive passage,orienting an anchor means that supports a screw within said anchorcavity, inserting a flexible driving means through said ingressivepassage to engage the screw and turning said driving means to tightenthe screw within the anchor means and into an engaging surface on thesecond element juxtaposed against the engaging surface on the firstelement.
 2. A method for joining first and second elements, as set forthin claim 1, in which the following additional step is utilized, securingan anchor means in the form of a dowel in said cavity.
 3. A method forjoining first and second elements, as set forth in claim 2, in which thefollowing additional step is utilized, piercing a starting apertureaxially of the dowel to receive the screw.
 4. A method for joiningwooden members, as set forth in claim 2, in which the followingadditional step is utilized, plugging said ingressive passage after thescrew is satisfactorily tightened and the flexible driving means isremoved from the ingressive passage.